The gray concrete walls of the Monticello nuclear power plant, 40 miles north of the Twin Cities.

Jim Gehrz, Dml - Star Tribune

Monticello nuclear plant back up

Star Tribune

September 28, 2012 - 8:09 PM

Xcel Energy Inc.'s Monticello nuclear power plant has been restarted and is ramping up to full generating capacity, the utility said Friday.

Maintenance work on electrical equipment Tuesday momentarily interrupted power to some plant systems, a condition that was detected by the reactor's protective features and led to the automatic shutdown, the Minneapolis-based electric utility said in a statement.

A U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission update said the plant was operating at 23 percent of capacity early Friday.

The 600-megawatt plant is 40 miles northwest of the Twin Cities and generates enough electricity for 500,000 homes.